Testing tool for wells



Feb. 6, 1940. H-. E. DRIPPS ET AL TESTING TOOL FOR WELLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 10, 1938 3 7 5 j W? W a 0 MN ..F & M 3% 5 HJ4....w 7/ 5 F S:\ o 1 000 Feb. 6, 1940- H. E. DRIPPS ET AL TESTING TOOL FOR WELLS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 10, 1938 flwuc-wtov f/Aeozo 5 DQ/PP; HENB) PAUSEB Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harold E. Dripps and Henry Rauser, Lake Charles, La.

Application November 10, 1938, Serial No. 239,779

11 Claims.

This invention relates to well testing apparatus.

An object of the invention is to provide a well tester of the character described shaped to be lowered into a well and having a sample chamber therein which is closed to prevent; the entrance of the drilling fluid into the chamber while the tester is being lowered or withdrawn, the tool being provided with novel means for guarding the sample chamber against the entrance of the drilling fluid at all times whereby to obtain an uncontaminated sample of the contents of the stratum being tested.

It is another object of the invention to provide a well testing tool having a sample chamber therein, a suitable packer thereon for forming a seal between the tool and the walls of the well with a novel valve assembly for closing the chamber against the entrance of drilling fluid from the well and novel means effective to open the valves of said assembly after the packer has been set, to permit. the entrance of a sample from the stratum beneath the packer and to thereafter permit the valves to close to entrap the sample.

The invention embodies a plurality of valves arranged, and operative in a novel manner to securely close the sample chamber and entrap the sample and to protect it from the entrance of contaminating material.

The invention also embodies an equalizing valve arranged to be locked open when desired to permit by-passing of the drilling fluid while running the tool into the well or withdrawing it.

It is another object of the invention to provide a testing tool of the character described whose parts may be interlocked so that the tool may be rotated as a unit when desired, said parts having the necessary relative longitudinal movement for operating the equalizing valve as req uired.

The construction is such that while the tool is being lowered into the well the operating string may be moved up or down; or when the packer is set on top of the rat hole it may be spudd to a firm seat, and the string and tool may be rotated, all without opening the valves guarding the sample chamber.

With the above and other objects in view the invention has particular relation to certain novel features of construction, operation and arrangement of parts, anexample of which is given in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein--- n Figures 1 and 2 show vertical, sectional views of the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the tool showing the parts in the position they will occupy while the tool is being lowered into the well. I

Figure 3 shows a side elevation, partly in sec- 5 tion, of the complete tool.

Figures 4 and 5 show vertical, sectional views of the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the tool as landed in home position preparatory to making the test.

Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 4.

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view taken 15 on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9 shows a cross-sectional viewtaken on the line 9-9 of Figure 5.

Figures 10 and 11 show vertical, sectional views of the upper and lower ends of the tool with the 20 valves open for permitting an inlet of the sample from the stratum being tested into the sample chamber.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken. on the line l2--l2 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawlngs wherein like numerals of reference desi nate the same parts in each of the figures, the numeral I designates, as a whole, a suitable packer. In the illustration shown this is a con- 30 ventional type of rat hole packer adapted to be set at the upper end of the rat hole 2 as shown in Figure 5. It is to be understood, however, that any type of packer may be employed suitable to be set in a casing and expanded to 35 form a fluid tight joint therewith; As shown the packing element la is mounted on a tubular mandrel 3 to the lower end of which a perforated nipple 4 is connected by means of a clamp collar 5. A main packer body 6 is connected to the 1 upper end of the mandrel and the packer is tightly clamped between said body and the clamp collar 5. Attached to the upper end of the body 6 there is a by-pass valve housing I which is provided with the inside keyways 8, 84]. extend- 45 ing from the lower end of the housing and terminaiiing beneath the upper end thereof as more accurately shown in Figures 5 and 9. Screwed into the upper end of the packer body there is a tubular by-pass valve seat 9 whose l upper end is outwardly beveled. The upper end of the housing 1 has an internal, annular flange III which is spaced above the upper ends of the keyways 8, 8a.

A tubular nipple II is fitted upwardly through a the housing I and its lower end is outwardly flared so as to form a close fit with the upper end of the seat 9 thus forming a by-pass valve. The nipple H has the side keys l2, i211. adapted to work in the keyways 3, 8a, the key i2 being of greater cross-sectional area than the keyway 80.. The housing I has the by-pass ports l3 therethrough. Beneath the flange ill the housing I has an internal, annular groove l4 above the upper ends of the keyways 8, 8a. When the tool is assembled to run into the well the nipple I! will be in its upper position, as shown in Figure 2, with the keys |2, i2a-above the keyways 8, 8a. and the nipple turned so that the keys l2, i2a. will be out of registraiton with said keyways in which position they will rest on the bottom of the groove 4 and hold the by-pass valve open, as shown in said Figure 2, so that in going into a well filled with drilling fluid a portion of the fluid beneath may pass up through the mandrel 3 and out through the ports 83. The key |2 will rest against the stop M as shown in Figure 12 so that while going in if the packer should turn, for any reason, the key |2 will pass over the way 80. without entering it, and the stop la. is set back so that the key |2a will pass by it; all to the end that the packer would have to turn completely around before the keys i2, |2a could regitser with their corresponding keyways 8, 8a and enter them to permit the by-pass, or equalizing valve to close while going in. When the tool is set, ready for a. test, the nipple maybe turned to register the keys |2, |2a with the keyways 8, 8a and the by-pass valve will be closed when the tool is set down, as shown in Figure 5, that is, when the packer is set, for example, in the upper end of the rat hole and it is necessary.

The upper end of the tubular nipple II is connected to the valve housing above by means ofa coupling as |5.. The valve housing consists of.

the upper tubular jacket I6 and the lower, inwardly thickened, tubular casing I! which have a screw threaded connection and the latter of which is screwed into the upper end of the coupling l5 and has a flow bean I8 screwed into the lower end thereof and provided with the restricted passageway IS.

The numeral 28 designates an operating string of pipe such as a drill stem which extends to the ground surface. A tubular drive nipple 2| is connected to the lower end of the operating string 28 by a suitable coupling 22. The lower end of this drive nipple extends down into the upper end of the tubular jacket l6 and is provided with the side keys 23 which work in the inside vertical keyways 24 in the jacket. A stufllng box embodying packing 25 and the compression gland 26 is provided at the upper end of the jacket around the 've nipple 2|. The upper ends of the keyway 24 terminate beneath the stuffing box forming the inside shoulders 21 which hang on the upper ends of the keys 23 when the tool is being lowered into the well or withdrawn. Screwed into the lower end of the drive nipple 2| there is a gland 28 whose upper end is beveled on its inner edge forming a seat 29 and whose lower end has an external, annular flange 30 which is seated on the upper end of the main spring 3|. The lower end of this spring seated on an inside ring 32 which is screwed into the lower end of the housing. l6 and into which ring there is screwed the annular main valve seat 33 with which the downwardly opening main valve 33 cooperates to open and close said seat. This main valve 34 is screwed onto the lower end of the valve stem 35 which extends upwardly through the ring 32 and the gland 28 and whose upper end is enlarged forming a head 36 adapted to cooperate with the seat 29 on the upper end of the gland 28. The stem 35 has a passageway 31 extending throughout its length whose lower end is closed by the valve 34 and whose upper end is open.

Around the stem 35 and located between the gland 28 and the ring 32 there is a floating spacing sleeve 39. Seated in the upper end of the drive nipple 2| there is an inside cage 40 having an inside downwardly facing shoulder 4|. Beneath this shoulder there are the downwardly converging locln'ng dogs 42 whose upper ends are loosely attached to the cage and whose lower ends are free and held inwardly by the bent pressure springs 43. Within the ring 32 and surrounding the stem 35 there is suitable packing 45 forming a seal with the stem and held in place by the seat 33. Above the valve 34 the stem is provided with the downwardly diverging inlet ducts 46 which lead inwardly to the passageway 31.

The valve seat 34 is seated on the upper end of the coil spring 41 and this coil spring is seated on a plug 48 screwed into the upper end of the casing l1 and having the upwardly diverging ducts 49 which lead upwardly therethrough from the tapering valve seat 50. Cooperating with the valve seat 50 there is a downwardly opening valve 5| having a stem 52 which works through an" axial bearing in the plug 48. The upper end of this stem carries a suitable stop 53. Surrounding the stem 52 and interposed between the plug 48 and the stop 53 there is a coil spring 54 which normally holds the valve 5| in closed position.

The tool is assembled for entrance into the well, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, with the ports |3 open, as shown in Figure 2 and the key I2 resting against the stop la. As the tool is assembled it should be partly filled with water so as to submerge the stem 35 the required depth for a reason to be hereinafter stated. As the tool is lowered the drilling fluid beneath may pass up around the packer I as well as up through the mandrel 3 and out through the ports I 3 thus by-passin'g the drilling fluid and equalizing the pressure above and beneath the packer. Should the packer hang up in the bore hole for any reason, before bottom is reached, the operating string may be elevated and lowered and the tool spudded downwardly without closing the equalizing valve seat 9 or opening the valves 34, 5|. When the packer is set the entire tool may be rotated by turning the operating string until the keys l2, |2a register with, and enter, the keyways- 8, 8a; the keys 23, at all times working in the keyways 24.

Attention is called to the fact that the valve 34 is substantially fully opened before the valve 5| opens, upon downward movement of the string, and so remains open until after the valve 5| closes upon subsequent upward movement of the string. This is important for the reason that while the fluid is flowing upwardly, under pressure, the gritty substances therein will not so readily cut away the parts of the valve 34 and its seat as would be the case if said valve was only Partly opened while the gritty fluid flowed therethrough.

While going into the well it will be noted that the valve 5! as well as the valve 34 are both closed to prevent entrance of drilling fluid into i the sample chamber 55 above.

When the packer is seated and the test is ready to be made, the operating string is tumed to align keys I2, I21: with their keyways and the operating string is let down, as shown in Figure 5, closing the valve seat 9 as indicated in Figure 5 and placing the spring 3| under compression as indicated in Figure 4. The spacing sleeve will now limit the relative downward movement of the operating string. The operating string may now be elevated so that the parts will assume the position shown in Figure 1 with the locking dogs 42 in their upper position. With the flow tube 56 in the apparatus these locking dogs will now be above the shoulder 44 on said flow tube. This flow tube 58 may be lowered through the operating string 20 and it will eventually land on the upper end of the stem 35 but its force will be broken by the liquid in the tool so that the force of the impact will not injure the tool or cause parting of the operating string. The flow tube 56 is an element of the tool itself and its insertion into operative position constitutes the final assembly of the completed tool. The operating string may then be lowered from the position shown in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 10 and the dogs 42 will engage the shoulder 44 on said tube and the flow tube will be forced downwardly against the upper end of the stem 35 moving said stem downwardly to the position shown in Figure 10 and opening the valves 34 and 5|. The fluid beneath the packer may then flow into the nipple 4 passing inwardly through the mandrel 3 and the nipple H and on up through the flow bean passing thence upwardly past the valve 5| through the ducts 49'and 46 and on up through the passageway 31 and through the flow tube 56 into the sample chamber 55. The flow bean l8 having the restricted passageway l9 there-through is necessary in case of strong well pressure to prevent the gritty fluid, flowing under strong pressure, from cutting out the parts of the tool.

After suiflcient time has elapsed to permit the inflow of an adequate sample, the operating string may be elevated with the parts in the position indicated in Figures 1 and 2. As the operating string is elevated into the position shown in Figure lthe springs 41, 54 will close the respective valves 34, 5| and the gland 25 will engage the head 36. The sample entrapped in the sample chamber 55 will thus be prevented from leaking out and drilling fluid will be prevented from entering and contaminating the sample.

It is to be noted that while going into the hole, or when the packer is seated, the valves 34 and 5| will not be opened by setting the weight of the string above down on the packer but will only be opened in response to the downward movement of the stem 35.

When the sample has been entrapped in the sample chamber the tool may be withdrawn from "the well, the operating string being broken up in the usual way as the tool is withdrawn. While the tool is moving upwardly through the well which is filled with drilling fluid, the drill fluid above will readily pass around the packer l as well as through the ports l3 and through the valve seat 9, the mandrel 3 and the nipple 4 thus equalizing the pressure above and below the packer as the tool is being withdrawn.

What we claim is:

1. A testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing; a packer and valve assembly carried by said string having an inlet passageway to establish communication with the interior of the string and having a packer to forma seal with the walls of the well, said assembly also having inlet valve means normally closing said passageway; a flow tube,.means arranged to interlock said tube with I the string whereby upon vertical movement of the string thetube'will be actuated to open the inlet valve means.

2. A testing tool for wells-comprising a string of tubing; a packer and valve assembly carried by said string having an inlet passageway to establish communication with the interior of the string andhaving a packer to form a seal with the walls of the well, said assembly also havin inlet valve means normally closing said geway; a flow tube, means arranged to interlock the string and tube whereby upon downward movement of the string the tube will be actuated to open the inlet valve means and means to close the inlet valve means upon upward movement v of the string and flow tube.

3. A testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing containing a sample chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by the string hav-. ing a packer adapted to seal off an area of the well bore, said assembly having a passageway leading from the sealed ofi area into the chamber and inlet valves normally closing the passageway; a flow tube adapted to be lowered through the string means arranged to connect the string to the tube whereby the tube will be actuated by downward movement of the string to open said valves and a liquid cushion in the chamber to cushion the impact incident to the landing of the flow tube.

4. A testing tool for wells. comprising a string of tubing containing a sample chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by the string having a packer adapted to seal off an area of the well bore, said assemblyhaving a passageway leading from the sealed oi! area into the chamber and upper and lower valves normally closing the passageway; a flow tube adapted to be lowered through the string, means for operatively connecting the flow tube and string and eflective to actuate the flow tube to open said inlet valves successively from above downwardly upon downward movement of the string.

5. A testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing containing asample chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by the string having a packer adapted to .seal all an area of the well bore, said assembly having a passageway leading from the sealed ofl area into the chamber and upper and lower valves normally closing the passageway; a flow tube in the string, means for operatively connecting the flow tube and string and effective to actuate the tube to open said inlet valves successively from above downwardly upon downward movement of the string and means to thereafter close the inlet valves upon the subsequent upward movement of the string. 6. A testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing containing a sample chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by'th'e string having a packer adapted to seal of! an area of the well bore, said assembly having a passage-waydeading from the sealed oil area into the chamber and upper and lower, downwardly opening inlet valves normally closing the passageway; means for opening said valves upon downward movement of the string relative to the packer and valve assembly, said means including a. flow tube in the appa- -'ratus with means carried by the string engageable with the flow tube and effective to move the flow tube downwardly upon downward movement of the string and means arranged to be actuated by said tube, upon such downward movement and effective to open said upper and lower valves successively from above downwardly upon such downward movement and means to thereafter close the inlet valves upon the subsequent upward movement of the string.

'7. A testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing containing a sample chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by the string and having a packer adapted to seal ofi an area of the well bore, said string being movable vertically independent of said assembly, said assembly having a passageway leading from the sealed ofi area into the chamber and having downwardh opening valve means and means normally maintaining the valve means in position closing the passageway during such independent downward movement of the string, a flow tube in the string above the valve means, means arranged to interlock the flow tube with the string and in co-acting relation with the valve means and effective to open the valve means upon downward movement of the string.

8. A- testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing containing a simple chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by the string and having a packer adapted to seal off an area of the well bore, said string being movable vertically independent of said assembly, said assembly havaisaios means upon subsequent upward movement of the string.

9. A testing tool for wells comprising a string of tubing containing a sample chamber; a packer and valve assembly carried by the string having a packer adapted to seal off an area of the well bore, said assembly having a passageway leading from the sealed off area into the chamber and inlet valves normally closing the passageway; a flow tube adapted to be lowered through the string and operatively connected with the valves and string and eifective to open said valves upon downward movement of the string and a liquid cushion in the chamber to cushion the impact incident to the landing of the flow tube and means for closing the valves upon upward movement of the string.

10. In a testing tool for wells including a string of tubing having an inlet passageway to establish communication with the interior of the string and a packer to form a seal with the walls of the well; means for controlling said inlet passageway comprising a valve assembly including inlet valve means normally closing said passageway, a flow tube, means arranged to interlock said tube with the string whereby upon vertical movement of the string, the tube will be actuated to open the inlet valve means.

11. In a testing tool for wells including a string of tubing having an inlet passageway to establish communication with the interior of the string and a packer to form a seal with the walls of the well; means for controlling said inletpassageway comprising a valve assembly including inlet valves normally closing said passageway, a flow tube adapted to be lowered through the string and operatively connected with the valves and string and effective to open said valves upon downward movement of the string and a liquid cushion in said string above the inlet valve to cushion the impact incident to the landing of the flow tube, and means for closing the valves upon upward movement of the string.

HAROLD E. DRIPPS. HENRY RAUSER. 

